Combined automatic and manual circuit controller



July 26,1927.

L. P. HUTT' 7 COMBINED AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL GiRCUIT CONTROLLER Filed Dec. 13. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 His Attorney t +u m mp m O 8 July 26, 1927.

L. P. HUTT COMBINED AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL-CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Filed Dec .13. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor y Leonard P. Hutt Attorng1 July 26, 1927. 1,637,042

L. P. HUTT COMBINED AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Filed 15%.13. 1926 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor Leonard-P Hu'llt,

His Attorn e g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEONARD P. HU'I'T, OF SCHENEOTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB '10 GENERAL ELECTBIO COMPANY, A CORPORATION 01 NEW YORK. i

comuimn anromarrc Ann MANUAL cmcurr oon'raonnna.

Application flled December 13, 1926. Serial No. 154,606.

This invention relates to circuit controlling devices and pertains especially to controllers for electrically operated apparatus such as electric refrigerators or the like where it is desired that the circuit of the device be cont-rolled automatically by means responsivc to predetermined conditions such astemperature as well as be protected automatically from excessive current flow, and in addition be under manual control for initiating and teminating operation of the device at will.-

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a controller of the above character capable of accomplishing all of the automatic and manual controlling functions through the agency of the same circuit controlling switch mechanism.

While my dpresent invention is not necessarily limite thereto, it is as previously indicated, particularly advantageous in circuit controlling apparatus for electric refrigera tors especlally of the household type. In the usual form of household electric refrigerators, the refrigeration is accomplished by a compressor driven by an electric motor which is started and stopped through the agency of an automatic'device operating in accor ance with tem erature conditions within the. refrigerator. rom the safety standpoint it is also necessary that the motor circuit be interrupted in case the motor should become stalled oroverloaded so as to receive a con-.

tinned current of sufiicient value to burn out or damage the driving motor. Furthermore,

some form of manually'operated controller is required to place the refrigerator into and out of operation as desired.

As specifically applied to controllers for electric refrigerators, my invention enables the automatic temperature control of the electric refrigerator and the automatic overload protection of the device as well as the manual control thereof to be consolidated in a single switch mechanism for opening andv Also greater reliability may be obtained by concentrating all of the circuit controlling operations in a single switch mechanism of frigerator.

am 1e desi n and capacity to successfully ma e and reak the circuit throughout a long period of service than where a plurality of separate and independently operable automatic and manual circuit controlling devices are employed.

The accom anying drawings illustrate my invention em mentioned controlling functions for a domestic electric refrigerator by means of a common circuit con rolling switch mechanism. Fig. 1 is an assembly showing the general arrangement of the various parts of a mercury switch type of tem erature, overload, and manual control mec anism embodying the invention. Fig. 2 shows the location of the control equipment on the electric refrigerator, and Figs 3, 4 and 5 show the relative position of the various parts of the controller of Fig. 1 during different phases of operation. Fig. 6 is an assembly showin an electric refrigerator controlling switc mechanism of the relatively movable contact type embodying the invention and Figs. 7, 8 and 9 illustrate the relative positions of the various control elements during difiersnt phases of operation.

As shown in Fig. 1 the mercury' switch type ofelectric refrigerator controller. comprises a base 10 of suitable insulating mate rial upon which are mounted the automatic temperature responsive actuating element 11, the automatic overload responsive actuating element 12, and the manual controlling element 13, each of which operates upon the same tilting mercury switch 14 to control died in two types of control apparatus for accomplishing all of the above the circuit of-the driving motor of the re- The temperature responsive element 11 is shown as of the well .known sylphon type.

In this device-a suitable fluid such for example as sul hur dioxide is enclosed in an extension 0 the pipe v15 into the refrigerating compartment. The variations in pressure of the fluid due to temperature changes within the refrigerating compartment are transmitted to the sylphon bellows 16 and the deeply corrugated side walls of the bellows readily permit expansion and contraction thereof in accordance with the temperature of the refrigerator. The bellows 16 is mounted at its lower end in the. bracket 17 the desired temperature.

ges witlithe switch and the upper end on is pivotally mounted actuating arm 18 whic' u n the pin 19. The spring 20 and the adiusting nut 21 are provide for controlling operation of the arm 18 by the tem rature responsive element in orderto 0 turn regulation of the refrigerator The stop 22 serves to revent too great contraction of the sylphon llows.

At the right hand end of the arm 18 the tilting mercury switch 14 is carried in a era-- dle 23, preferably formed of moulded insulating material such as bakelite or the like. The cradle 23 is pivotedly mounted upon the pin 24 extending from. the bent up portion 25 at the free end .ofthe operating, arm 18. I

The electroresponsive overload protective element 12 as shown is of the thermal type. The movable bi-metallic thermal responsive element 26 is fixedly secured at its lower end to the metal late 27 with the free end of the thermal el ment hooked over in co-operating latching relation withthe projecting shoulder 28 formed on the mercury tube cradle 23. The thermal responsive element 26 is heated by means of the electrical heating coil 29 which is located in proximity to the bi-metallic element 26 and is energized in accordance with the'current of the refrigerator o crating motor as will be more ful y describes hereinafter. \Vith the thermal element 26 at normal temperature, the free end thereof. is maintained in latchin engagement with the shoulder 28 as in icated in Fig. 1 and serves as a fulcrum about which the cradle 23 is tilted when the switch actuating arm 18 is raised by the bellows 16 as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The manual control element 13 preferably is formed of suitable moulded insulating composition with a rearwardly extending ortion 30 of rectangular form as indicated y the dotted lines in the drawing and is pivotally mounted near the end of the rearwardly extending portion upon the vertical pin 31. On the front side of element 13 the operatin handle or button 32 is rovided so that t e element 13 may be manna l operated either to theright or the left. e control element 13 is so arranged that when the button 32 is moved to the right, the thermal element 26 is-engaged by the rearwardly extending portion 30 of control element 13 and the hooked end of the terminal element is moved out of en agement. with the shoulder 28. This 'rmits the cradle 23 to rotate freely about t e pin 24 in a counterclockwise direction due to the of! center weight of the mercury tube 14. Upon operation of the button 32 of the manual control element 13 to the left, the r'earwardly extending portion 30 engages with the tapering extension 33 formed on the mercury tube cradle 23. This results in rotation of the cradle in a clockwise direction about the pin 24 to re-engage the'hooked end of the terminal element 26 with the shoulder 28.

The mercury tube switch 14 may be of any conventional type. As shown the mercury" tube switch is rovided with the contact terminals 34 ene osed within the glass tube j 35 and arranged to be bridged by the lobule of mercury 36 when the tube is raise to or ast substantially the horizontal position.

he mercury switch may be exhausted or filled with an inert gas as desired. One of the contact terminals of the mercury switch is connected through the flexible connector 37 to the line terminal 38 while the other contact of the mercury switch is connected through the flexible connector 39 to the u turned portion 40 of the metal plate 2%, which thus serves as a conductor in the circuit controlled by the mercury switch.

\Vhile not in any way essential to the operation of the control mechanism previously described, the refrigerator control apparatus shown in Fig. 1 also includes an electromagnetically operated motor starting switch 41 and a starting resistor 42 such as are commonly provided for starting certain well known ty es of alternating current motors provided with a starting as well as a running winding.

In Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the mercury switch type of control mechanism .of ig. 1 is shown connected to control the circuit of the alternating current induction motor 43 having the running winding 44 and the starting winding 45. These figures illustrate diagrammatically the manner in which the starting switch 41 and the starting resistor 42 are arranged to control the starting winding of the motor.

Fig. 2 illustrates one way in which the refrigerator control switch mechanism shown in detail in Fig. 1 may be mounted u on an electric refrigerator of an im roye which is described and claime in the copending applications of Clark Orr Serial Number 756.336, filed December 16, 1924, and of-Christian Steenstrup Serial Numberv 109.960, filed May 18, 1926. both assigned to the assignee of the present application. While formin no part of my present invention. brie y the electric refrigerator mechanism comprises an alternating current induction motor preferably of the type illustrated in Figs. 3. 4 and 5 which is connected to drive a suitable compressor pump. the motor andthe compressor being enclosed and hermetically sealed within the casing 46. This permits the electric refrigerating apparatus to be mounted as a unit in an o ning in the top of the refrigerator 47 w iich may be of any suitable type. The refrigerator control apparatus of 'Fig. 1 is shown is provided with a suitable opening through which the operating handle 32 of the 'manu-' ally operated on and off control element 13 projects so as conveniently to be operated-to the right or to the'left to effect the s'tartlng and stopping of the electric refrigerator mechanism as desired. As indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, the pipe 15 contain-v ing the temperature responsivefluid extends into the refrigerating compartment so as .to be subjected to the temperature conditions obtaining therein.

As thus arranged the operation of the con trol switch mechanism shown-in Figs. 1 to 5 in controllin the operation of the refrigerator is as fo lows: With the several controlling elements of the refrigerator controlling switch mechanism in their. respectemperature within the refrigerator necessarily increases due to the leakage of heat through the walls thereof, or from opening the doors or other cause the fluid within the temperature responsive element 11 correspondingly expands and thereby increases the pressure exerted upon the sylphon bellows 16. This results in the bellows elongating and raising the actuating arm 18 as indicated in Fig. 4. As the arm 18 is raised, the cradle 23 carrying the mercury switch 14 pivots about the pin 24 with the hooked end of the thermostatic element '26 as-"a fulcrum. Thus the mercury switch 14 is tilted from the open position, as is shown in Fig. 3 to the closed Fig. 4. This first esta lishes a circuit for the running winding 44 which may be traced from the lower supply line 50 through the mercury switch 14, the heater coil 29 of the thermostatic overload protective device, the operating winding of the starting switch 41, the runnin winding 44 of the motor and thence to the upper supply line 50. The inrush of current to the motor ime mediately closes the startin switch 41 which completes the circuit for t e starting wind-' ing 45 through the starting resistor 42.

When the motor 43 has started the refrigeratorcompressor pump and has accelerated to substantially full running speed, the current through theoperating winding of the starting switch 41 is decreased in value sufficiently to permit the switch 41 to return to the o en position in accordance. with its bias. T opens the circuit of the starting osition as shown in winding 45 and the running winding 44 con tinues operation of themotor.

As the motor 43 continuesto operate the compressor puni the refrigerating action serves to lowert e temperature within the refrigerating compartment. When the temperature has been lowered the desired amount, the pressure of the fluid within the tube 15. is decreased and the sylphon bellows 16 1s againcontracted, thereby lowering the actuating arm 18. As a result the cradle 23 is rotated about the pin'24- in the reverse direction to return the mercury switch 14 to the open position as shown in Fig. 3.

Under. normal operatin conditions the start ng and running cyc e of the refrigerator motor 43 iscontrolled in the manner just described entirelyautomatically by the temperature responsive element 11 so as to maintam the temperature of the refrigerator within the desired limits; By adjustment of the tensionof the spring 20 through the agency of the adjusting nut 21, the limits of temperature within the refrigerator required to effect operation of the mercury switch may be varied at will. Decreasing the tension of spring 20 serves to lower the temperature limits while increasing the tension of spring 20 has the reverse effect.

If at any time during operation of the refrigerator under the control of the automatic temperature regulating element the refrigerator motor 43 should become stalled or overloaded due to accidental derangement of the refrigerating mechanism or for any other reason, the stalled or. overload current of the motor flowing through the heating winding 29 causes the thermal responsive element 26 to interrupt the motor circuit if the current is continued for any appreciable time interval. The thermal element 26 flexes due to heating and disengages the hooked. end thereof from the shoulder 28, thereby releasing the cradle 23 forrotation about the pin 24 to the circuit opening position as indicated in Fig. 5 entirely independently of operation of the refrigerator temperature responsive sylphon bellows 16. In this way the electrically heated thermoresponsive element 26 effectively prevents injurious heatin or burning out ofthe motor-windings un er any operating condition.

To replace the refrigerator in operation after the circuit of the operating motor has been interrupted automatically due to operation of the electroresponsive overload protective device 12, it is necessary. to move the manual control element 13 to the left to 1'0- tate the cradle 23 about thepin 24 to re-engage the shoulder 28 with the free-end of the thermoresponsive element 26. Assuming the difliculties have been overcome that caused stalling or overloading of the motor and consequently operation of the overload protective device 12, the refrigerator will III iii

continue in operation under 'the' automatic desired to sto control of the temperature responsive sylthe shoulder 28 and the mercury switch 14 -it once tilts to the circuit opening position instead of the controlling the manual control element 13 tagency of the co-operating In this case,

as previously described. Vhen .it is desired to restart operation of the refrigerator, the manual control element 13 .iSopera-ted to the left to re-engage the shoulder 28 with the free end of the thermo element 26 in the same manner pointed out above.

In Fig. 6 the invention is shown embodied in a modified form of switch mechanism which provides automatic temperature control and automatic overload protection as well as manual control of the operation 0 the refrigerator in the same general manner as the tilting mercury switch mechanism previously described. In this form the refrigerating conrol mechanism is provid with relatively movable circuit controlling contacts of the usual contactor or relay type tilting mercury switch for closing and opening of the refrigerator motor circuit.

With the construction shown switch mechanism is mounted upon a' ase 10 of suitable insulating material. and in-' cludes a refrigerator temperature responsive element 11 of the sylphon bellows type identical with that previously described. Likewise, the electroresponsive overload protective device 12 is of the'same bimetallic thermal type andprovided with a heating coil 29' as previously described. The manual control element 13' also co-operates with the automatic control elements 11 and 12 to initiate and terminate operation of the refrigerator as desired.

the circuit of the refrigerator motor is controlled by the refrigerator temperature responsive element 11 and the overload protective device 12 as well as the through the movable contact elements 61 and 62, which are pivotally mounted upon the pin 63. The contact 61 is carried by the lever arm and the contact 62 is carried by the lever arm 64, each lever arm preferably being formed of moulded insulating material and rotatably mounted, one behind the other, on the pin 63 as indicated in the drawing. Thus each of the lever arms is movable independently of the otherarm to bring the contacts 61 and 62 into and out of circuit closing engagement.

with the two yiel mg elements 66 in Fig. 6 the detail in connection with the ope The contact-61 is moved into engagement with the contact 62 by the automade temperature responsive actuating element 11 o crating "t rough the actuating arm 18. T e actuating arm 18 is pivotally mounted upon the in 19 and is provided which straddle the pin 67 projecting from the side of the contact arm 65. The spring 20 and the adjusting thumb nut 21 are provided for, varying the operating limits of the refrigerator temperature responsive element 11. The adjustable, compressionspring 68- permits the .range of the temperature .responsive element 11to be varied by ad- 'usting the pressure exerted upon the right and yielding element 66 as willbe more fulll yx set forth hereinafter.

0 contact 62 is yieldingly mounted upon the arm 64 by means of the compression spring 68" engagement thereof with the contact 61. Normally the 70 to rotate in the clockwise direction so as to thereby move the contact 62 out of engagement with the contact 61. However the arm 64 is held in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 6 by the engagement of the hooked end of the bimetallic thermal responsive element 26 with the end of the arm 64 as shown in dotted lines. 7

For the purpose of insuring a quick make and break operation of the contact 61 by the temperature responsive element 11. a mechanism is provided comprising the cooperating latching arms 71 and 72 and the notched arm 73 secured to and extending diagonally from the contact arm 65. Both of the latching arms 71 and 72 are mounted upon a pivot pin 74 and are actuated by a pin 75 secure to the end of an arm 76 which extends from the switch actuating arm 18, preferably beinqa bent up portion thereof. The spring 77 inserted between the lower ends of the latching'arms 71 and 72 serve to bias each of the arms into engagement with the actuating pin 75. The manner in which the latching arms 71 and 72 function to produce the quick make and break of the contact 61 will be described in ration of the refrigerator control mechanism.

I The manual control element 13' of suitable moulded material is rotatably mounted upon the pin 78 to be moved respectively in thefon or off directions as indicated. A spring 79 encircles the hub of the manual control element 13' with the two ends of the spring disposed on either sideof' the circular projection 80 extending from the reverse side of the element 13' as indicated and out of toinsure a'firm circuit closing arm 64 is biased by the spring ice by the dotted lines in the drawing. The

twoends of the spring 79 also straddle a stop 81 formed by a bent up portion of the metallic support plate 82, upon which the element is operated to the on or to theelectromagnet of the starting switc manual operatin element 13' as well as overload therma responsive element 26 is mounted Thus, the spring 79 serves to bias the manual control element 13' to the mid position "shown by the engagement of the projectio1i-80 with one or the other of-the ends of the spring when the manual control off positions.

When the manual control element 13' is operated to the of! position another circular rojection 83 formed on the reverse side of t e lower end of the manual control element engages with the end of the thermal responsive element 26 and thereby moves the hooked end of the thermal element: but of engagement with the'end of the contact arm 64. This permits the biasing spring to rotate the arm 64 in a clockwise direction about the pivot 63 and thereby carry the contact 62 out of cooperating relation with the contact 61 to insure interruption of the circuit controlled thereby. Downward movement of the end of the arm 64 is arrested by the extension 83 on the reverse side of the manual control element. The arm 64 together with the contact 62 may be returned to the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 6 by movement of the manual control element 13 to the on position. In this case, the extension 83 slides along the taper ing lower side of the arm 64, thereby raising the arm 64 until the end thereof is re-engaged with the hooked end of the thermal str1p26 and thereby maintains the contact 62 in cooperating relation with the contact 61.

I will be observed that the electroresponsive switch 41' for controllin the starting winding of the refri erator driving motor is of a somewhat diiierent form than that previously described in Fig. 1. As shown in ig. 6, the starting winding switch 41' com? prises an electromagnet having an E shaped movable armature 84 as more clearly shefivn in Figs. 7,8 and 9. The movable armature 84 is connected to the starting switch member through a lost motion connection formed by inserting the end of the switch member 85 throu h an elongated slot 86 in the extension 87 from the middle leg ofthe E shaped armature 84. When the operating electro-magnet of the starting switch'41' is deenergized, the armature 84 drops to the position shown in. Fig. 6, and thereby operates the switch arm 85 to the openposition in-which it is shown. When the o erating ii 41' is energized, the armature 84 is raised and thereby ermits the biasing spring 88 to o erate the starting switch 85 to the circuit 0 osing position. As shown diagrammatically in the Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the starting switch 41' controls the circuit of the starting winding 45 of the refrigerator comressor driving motor 43 which as shown is of'the alternating current induction type previously described in connection with Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

The operation of the modified form of the refrigerator control mechanism. constructed as shown in Fig. 6 in controlling the compressor driving 'motor will be more fully V understood by referring to the circuit diagrams 7, 8 and 9. I

With the parts of the control mechanism in their respective positions shown in Figs.

6 and 7, the contact 61 is disengaged from the contact 62 due to the contraction of the bellows 16 of the refri erator temperature responsive element 11, t us indicating that the temperature within the refrigerator has arm 65, however, is prevented by the latch ing arm 71 which is in abutting engagement with the end of the arm 73. This results in setting up a strain in the spring 68 as the actuating arm is gradually moved to the left. During this movement, the pin 75 radually slides the latching arm 71 t0 thelef t. When the movement of arm 18 is sufiicient to slide the end of the latching arm 71 into the notch 78 formed in the arm 73, the spring 68 thereon is free to effect a rapid clockwise move- 'nient of the contact arm 65 and thereby quickl bring the contact 61 into engagement with t e contact 62 with a snap action. The

relative position of the latchin arm 71 in the slot in the cooperating arm 73 to permit the quick engagement of the contacts 61 and 62 is shown more fully in Fig. 8.

Upon engagement of the contacts 61 and 62 the starting winding 44 of the motor 43 is energized from the supply lines 89 through a circuit extending from the upper supply lines through the contacts 61 and 62. the heater 29'. the winding of the starting switch 41' and. thence through the winding 44 to the lower supply line. -With the motor at standstill. the large inrush of current through the winding of the starting switch 41' at once operates the armature 84 to release the contact arm 85 and thereby permit closure of the starting contacts by the biasing spring 88 as indicated in Fig. 8. Closure of the starting switch energizes the starting winding 45 of the motor through the starting resistor 4'3 and the motor thereupon starts and accelerates the refrigerator com ressor mechanism. When the motor reac es its e the startin switch 41' permits the armature .84 to rop .and there open the circuit of the motor starting win ing 45.

When the motor 43 has 0 erated the com-- uired decrease in temperature within the rigerator, the bellows 16 of the temperature responsive element contracts thereb permitting the spring 20 to return the swltc actuating arm 18 to the right. This sets up a strain in the yielding element 66, tending to disengage the contact 61 from the contact 62.

.pressor mechanism sufiicient y to produce the In this case, however, the shoulder at the end of the latchin arm 72 restrains upward movement, oft e arm 73 on the rotatable switch contact arm 65 until the pin 75 has moved to the right sufficiently to disengage the arm 72 from the end of the arm 73. This releases the contact 61 for a quick break from the contact 62 by the left hand ielding element 66. The quick make and reak feature not only preserves the contact 61 and 62 from injurious arcing but also prevents any chattering of the contacts that might result in repeatedly establishing or interrupting the circuit of the motor. Upon disengagement of the contacts 61 and 62, .the motor circuit is interrupted preparatory to repeating the cycle of o eration of the motor just described under t e control of the refrigerator temperature responsive element.

Under normal operating conditions the temperature responsive element continues indefinitely to start and stop the motor as required to maintain the refrigerator temperature within the desired limits.

The minimum and maximum limits ofis varied by turning'the adjusting nut 68' associated therewith. When the nut 68 is turned to compressthesprin 68, the additional strain of the sprin'g'68 18 added to the force of the adjust ng spring 20 so as to raise the" [maximum temperature limit at whichthe control mechanism is operated to start 'the 'rnoto'r'without however altering the minimum {temperature limit at which the controlswitch mechanism is operated to stop the motor. This adjustmentof the range as ,well as of the limits of temperature control permits the operation of the refrigerator motor to be controlled very accurately so as to operate most efliciently and produce the desired refrigerating results. Moreover, the

adjustments may be made easily and conveniently at any time, even during operation of the control mechanism.

If at any time, the motor fails to start properly or becomes overloaded for any reason, the resulting current flow through the heater 29 causes flexure of the thermal responsive element 26 to the right after the lapse of a certain time interval. The fiexure of the thermal element moves the hooked over end thereof out of engagement with the contact arm 64, thereby permitting the spring 7 0 to move the contact 62 out of cooperating relation with-the contact 61, as shown in Fig. 9' thereby interrupting the motor circuit. The manner of resetting of the contact arm 64 by operation of the manual controlled element 13' to the left has been previously described.

Likewise, the operation of the manual control element 13 to the right to disengage the thermal element from the end of the arm 64 irrespective of the heating effect of the motor current toterminate at will operation of the refrigerator also previously has been set forth. if. Y

From the foregoing, it will be seen that my invention makes it possible to consolidate the controlling functions of a plurality of automatically operated devices and the manually operated device all in a single circuit controlling switch mechanism so that each de: vice is able'to effect the opening of the circuit independently of the other devices and at least two of the devices also can effect the reclosure of the circuit as it is opened thereby. In this way, the invention presents a compact and rellable circuit controller that is of particular advantage in controlling electric refrigerators or in other similar service. \Vhile I have illustrated and described two forms of switch mechanism embodying the invention, it will be understood that the invention also may be embodied in other forms.

What I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a circuit controlling device, the combination of movable means for controlling the circuit, at least three separate operating means therefor, and connections between each operating-means and the movable c ir-. cuit controlling means for effecting move ment of the circuit controlling means from one circuit controlling position to another circuit controlling POSltlOll, the connections of at least a plurality of said operating means being arranged to permit the saidoperating means to effect return movement 0 the circuit controlling means from said other'circuit controlling position to said one circuit controlling position.

2. In a circuit controlling device, the combination of means operable to control the circuit, at least three separate operating erating means to operate the circuit controlling means from one circuit controll ng position to another circuit controlling position independently of operation of the other means and ermitting each of a plurality of said operating means to return the circuit controlling means to said one circuit controlllng position.

bination" of means operable to control the circuit, separate manually controlled and automatically controlled means for operating said circuit controlling means, and mechanical connections between said operating means and said circuit controlling means permitting each of said operating meansto effect the opening of the controlled circuit independently of operation of the other operating means and permitting a plurality of said operating means to elfect the closing of the controlled circuit after operation thereof to open the circuit.

4. In a circuit controlling device, the combination of means operable to control the circuit, manuall controlled means for opcrating said fir t meansto open and close the circuit, a plurality of automatically controlled means each arranged to effect operation of the circuit controlling means to open the circuit in accordance with a diflerent predetermined condition, and at least one of said automatic operatin' means being arranged to effect the reclosingof the circuit in accordance with the corresponding condition after the opening of the circuit by said. 1 automatic operating means.

5. In a circuit controllin device, the combination of means operab e to control the closing and opening of the circuit, a plurality of operating means mechanically connected to control the operation of'said circuit controlling means, one of said means being operable responsively to predetermined conditions to effect the closin and opening of the circuit automatically in accordance with said conditions when the re maining operating means are inactive, a second one of said means being responsive to a means bein different predetermined condition to insure the opening of the circuit in accordance I therewith independently of the operation of said first means, and a third one of said manually operable to effect the opening andclosing of said circuit at will.

6. In a circuit controlling device, the combination of a switch mechanism having relatively movable circuit controlling contacts,

a plurality of automatic means each responsive to a diflerent predetermined condition and mechanically connected to effect relative movement of said contacts in accordance therewith, and manually operable means mechanically connected to efl'ectrelative movement of the contacts independently of said conditions.

7. In a circuit controlling device, the comfor efiecting circuit closing and circuit open- 3. In a circuit controlling device, the c'oming movement of said means at will, and electroresponsivemeans for effecting c1rcu1t opening movement of said means in accordance with predetermined current conditions.

8. In a circuit controlling device, the combination with cooperating circuit controlling members operable into circuit closing engagement, of controlling means therefor including a temperature responsive devicethe other controlling devices.

9. In acircuit controlling device for an electric vrefrigerator, the combination of movable means for controlling the circuit;

of the refrigerator, mechanism responsiveto the temperature of the refrigerator for effecting circuit closing and circuit opening movement of said means at adjustable maximum and minimum temperature limits, automatic electroresponsive means connected to be energized in accordance with the current in tlIQ'IGIIlgBIatOI circuit "for efiectmg circuit opening movement of said movable circuit controllmg means upon the occurrence of overload conditions in the circuit and manual means for operating said movable circuit controlling'means to initiate andt-erminate automatic operation of the refrigerator at will.

10. A circuit controlling device comprismg a pair of cooperating movable circuit controlling contacts, a plurality of automatic means, each responsive to a difi'erent predetermined condition and each associated with a difi'erent one of said contacts for effecting circuit controlling movement thereof relatively to the other contact in accordance with said conditions, and a manual operating means, for efiecting circuit controlling movement of one of said contacts at will independently of the automatic means associated therewith.

11. A circuit controlling device comprising two members, each having an automatic operating means available, said means being re s onsive to different predetermined conditions and each mechanically connected to operate the correspondin one of. said contacts relatively to the ot er contact in response to said predetermined condition, and a manual operating means mechanically connected to operate one of the contacts at will independently of the response of the automatic operating means associated therewith.

12. A circuit controlling device comprising a pair of cooperating movable circuit controlling contact members, means responsive to predetermined conditions associated with one of said contact members for auto- -matically operating the same into and out of circuit closing engagement with the other contact in accordance with said condition means responsive to difierent predetermine conditions for operating the other contai ct out of circuit controlling relations with said one contact in accordance with said difi'erent conditions and, manual control means for operating the said other contact into and out of circuit controlling the relation with said one contact at will.

13. In a circuit controlling device, the combination of a pair of cooperating movable circuit controlling contact members, temperature responsive means for automatically effecting circuit closing and circuit opening movementsof one 0 said contact members, electroresponsive means for autoinaticall effecting circuit opening movement 0 the other contact member and manually operable means for affecting both circuit opening and circuit closing movements of said other contact at will.

14. In a circuit controllin device having a pair of cooperating mova le circuit controlling contact members, the combination of automatic means mechanically connected to operate one of said contact members to and from the circuit closing position. with a-snap action in accordance with predeter mined conditions, manual means for operating the other contact member to and from the circuit closing position at will, and the electroresponsive means for aintaining said other contact in the circuit closing position under certain conditions.

15. In a circuit controlling device for an electric refrigerator, the combination of movable means for controlling the circuit of the refrigerator means responsive to the temperature of the refrigerator for automatically effecting circuit closing and circuit opening movement of said means at certain minimum and maximum temperature limits, means for ensuring a snap action in both the circuit closing and circuit opening movements of said circuit controlling means, adjustable independently operable contact means associated with the temperature responsive means for varying the said minimum and maximum temperature limits and independently adjustable means associated vice arranged to operate in accordance with the temperature of the refrigerator for automatically effecting circuit closing and .cir-

cuit opening movements of said contact members, at certain minimum and maximum limits, latch mechanism associated with the relatively. movable contact members for ensuring a snap action in both the circuit closing and circuit opening movements thereof, an adjustable spring acting .in opposition to the sylphon bellows for var-yin said maximum and minimum temperaturedimits, and an independent-1y adjustable spring associated with the sylphon bellows for varying the range between said minimum and maximum limits.

17. A controlling device for an electric refrigerator comprising a pair of cooperating inde dent y movable circuit controlling mem iars for establishing and interrupting the circuit of the refrigerator, a device movable responsively to variations in the refrigerator temperature and yieldingly connected to operate one of said members to and from the circuit closing position in accordance with said variations, mechanism for restraining said member until after a, limited-movement of said device to ensure a nick movement of said one member to an troresponsive means connected to be energized in accordance with the current in the refrigerator circuit and normally arranged to maintain the other of said circuit controllin members in circuit controlling relation wit said one member until the occurrence of abnormal conditions in the refrigerator circuit and a manually controlling member for operatin at will said other circuit controlling mem er into and out of circuit controllin relation with the said one member.

18. controllin device for an electric refrigerator comprising a pair of coo crating circuit controlling members for esta lishing and interruptin the circuit of the refri erator, one of sai members biased out o circuit controlling relation with the other, a latch of thermal-responsive material for holding the said one member in circuit controlling relation with the other member, a device movable responsively to variations in the refrigerator temperature and connected to operate the other member into and out from said circuit closing position, elec-' of circuit closing engagement with said one member 1n accordance with said variations,

means for heating sa-id latch on the occurrence of an abnormal current flow in the refrigerator circuit to effect the release of the circuit controlling member controlled by the said latch and therefore open the circuit of the refri erator, and a manual control member for exing the latch to release said member and for returning the member into latch- 10 ing relation therewith at will.

- In witness whereof, I havehereunto set my hand this l 9th da LE NARDP. HUTT.

of December, 1926. 

